CLARKSVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — A New York sheriff on Friday defended his decision to file a criminal complaint against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo without consulting prosecutors or the accuser, a woman who says the Democrat groped her late last year.

But Sheriff Craig Apple said he was confident in the strength of the case, which he said was based on witness interviews and voluminous records.

"I feel very confident that the district attorney is going to prosecute this," he told reporters at a news conference in Albany, the state capital.

A court summons requires Cuomo to appear for an arraignm...